THE youth of the Clarence Valley want their voices to be heard, and thanks to the Clarence Youth Action group, they've put their feelings onto film

The Clarence Youth Action group, in conjunction with Clarence Valley Group combined with Cast Net productions, youth videographers, reporters and a musician to create the "ASK" film project.

The group asked 201 young people living in the Clarence Valley about the kind of community they want to live in - the issues that matter to local young people and find out what their aspirations are.

The "ASK" process is an ongoing strategy for council, youth, community engagement, and the information collected will feed into council's Our Community Plan objectives. This short film captures the broader response from young people in the community.

The objectives of this project are to:

. Engage with and receive feedback from young people aged 12-25 in the Clarence Valley to have their say on making the community a better place for everyone

. Work with young people through the engagement process that helps surface how people feel about important issues and identify aspirations

. Share this project across services, council and community for a range of purposes where the community are able to see youth priorities as an opportunity to spur collective action

. Combine this work with follow up meetings "community conversations" with young people in the community to make a plan for action

. Benefit council and the broader community gain new perspectives on an issue

. Benefit young by connecting them with their community by allowing them to express their voice and opinions

. Benefit programs and services that are designed for young people to better meet their needs

Details collected by young people will be used to invite them and other young people (in early 2017) for follow up meetings "community conversations" to make a plan for action moving forward. This is not the end of the process, only the beginning. We aim to continue having these conversations with young people on an ongoing basis.

We would like to make a special mention to CYA members Connor Tarrant for the music, Kori Eaton for the camera work and Gabi Andrew, Kate McGuire, Christie King, Ryan Moore and Connor Tarrant for exceptional reporting.

So.... here it is:

"ASK" project - Clarence Youth Action Group:
The Clarence Youth Action Group took to the streets to ask more than 200 Clarence youth what they wanted for the future

Please help share this project. Our local young people have so much to say, and they want their priorities heard.